Mar13

Compliance Council; Session One

The Council provides opportunities to meet with counterparts from other credit unions, discuss upcoming regulatory changes, and devise strategies to implement them. Members benefit from the collective intelligence of compliance peers, all working to create best practices for credit unions.
Mar18

Help Build a Credit Union Chapter for the Tri-Cities Area! 

Join your peers as we explore the opportunity to create a Credit Union Chapter in the Tri-Cities area!
Mar25

Commercial Services Council; Session One

This session provides an opportunity to engage with a community of commercial lending, and business service leaders focused on treasury and cash management services, member business lending programs, and strategies for deepening relationships with small business and commercial clients.
Mar26

HR & Trainers Council; Session One

The Council’s open format serves to encourage and recharge staff dealing with similar challenges and developments within the Credit Union Movement. Human resources and training professionals gather to learn, teach, pass on tips, and provide resources, information, networking, and professional development opportunities to best prepare for what’s on the horizon.
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Local Change Foundation Granted Nearly $1 million to Help Coloradans Afford Mortgage Down Payments

Posted by on March 10, 2025

Local Change Foundation Elevations CU

The Local Change Foundation, formerly known as Elevations Foundation, has received a grant of nearly $1 million from the FHLBank Topeka – Affordable Housing Program to help Colorado residents achieve home ownership. In collaboration with Elevations Credit Union, the Local Change Down Payment Assistance program will give an estimated 95 first-time homebuyers in Boulder County and surrounding communities in Colorado a grant of $10,000 per household for their down payments. The program has an estimated launch date of mid-2025.

To qualify, homebuyers will need to earn 80% or less than the area median income (AMI) and get their mortgage through Elevations Credit Union. Almost half of the funds will go towards qualifying residents earning below 60% AMI. Aside from affording the down payment, selected homebuyers should be financially prepared to afford their mortgage.

“With these funds, we can make homeownership a reality for so many people who can’t afford it today and uplift communities in Boulder and beyond,” said Jennifer Hinderliter, executive director for the foundation. “Stable housing can create a positive ripple effect for health, education success, and economic strength.”

This support for down payments comes at a time when housing affordability is on many Coloradans’ minds. The median home price in Boulder County is $750,000, a 50% increase since 2013 according to the City of Boulder’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. According to the Common Sense Institute of Colorado’s Denver Housing Affordability Report, Denver homes are also 170% more expensive than in 2012.

Elevations Credit Union seeks to empower its membership to responsibly achieve homeownership, among other financial milestones. The credit union also offers free financial education seminars and webinars, advice from certified credit union financial counselors (CCUFCs) in branches, and free access for members to the gamified financial wellness app, Zogo.

Along with mental health and education, affordable housing is one of the pillars guiding Local Change’s work in the community. Each year, the foundation also contributes over $150,000 in grants to local nonprofits and scholarships to deserving students.

Posted in Colorado, Community Impact, Regional Member News.